Detroit Tigers' Victor Martinez will be pinch-hitter in interleague series against Washington Nationals

"It is what it is. I can't do anything about it. I can't create a new rule." -- Jim Leyland

Victor Martinez will not be in the starting lineup Tuesday or Wednesday against the Washington Nationals. He will be used as a pinch-hitter and will not catch in the interleague series in Washington.AP File Photo

HOUSTON -- Victor Martinez signed with the Detroit Tigers to be the DH. For two days this week, he'll be a PH.

Martinez will be a pinch-hitter and will not catch in the upcoming two-game series Tuesday and Wednesday against the Washington Nationals, manager Jim Leyland said Sunday afternoon.

"I would say it's fair to say he'll be coming off the bench to pinch-hit," he said. "It's just the way it is right now."

Martinez was hopeful from day one of spring training that he would be able to catch this season, and that still could happen down the road. But Leyland said Martinez, who missed all of the 2012 season while recovering from knee surgery, is not ready for catching duties at this point.

The Tigers are benefiting from the way the interleague schedule is interspersed throughout the season. In past seasons, they would play several interleague games in a row. This season, with an interleague series here and there, the Tigers won't spend lengthy stretches with Martinez sitting on the bench.

"It's a lot better," Leyland said. "I like it a lot better because I don't want to lose
Victor for (an extended period), but at the same time, it is what it is.
I can't do anything about it. I can't create a new rule."

As a pinch-hitter, Martinez is 11-for-33 (.333) with nine RBIs and 10 walks in his career.

"If you had a freak game, a lopsided game one way or the other, you might get Prince (Fielder) out of there early and put him at first," Leyland said. "But that's where it is. I don't know what else I can do."